Brown Recommended for N. Main Group
At its May 23, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission (AAPAC) unanimously recommended that Connie Rizzolo Brown be nominated for a position on a task force to study the corridor along North Main Street and the Huron River. That recommendation will be forwarded to mayor John Hieftje.
The task force was established by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, with membership to include the following: one member of the park advisory commission, one member of the planning commission, one resident representing the Water Hill neighborhood, one resident representing the North Central neighborhood, one resident from the Old Fourth Ward, one resident representing the Broadway/Pontiac neighborhood, two business and property owners from the affected area, and one member of the Huron River Watershed Council.
At its May 21 meeting, the two sponsors of the resolution that created the task force – Ward 1 councilmembers Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith – proposed adding three additional representatives: a member of the city council, someone from the boating/fishing community of river users, a representative from the Huron River Citizens Association. Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves on AAPAC, then proposed an amendment to add an AAPAC member to the task force. The AAPAC addition was passed by council on a 6-5 vote. [See Chronicle coverage: "Positions Added to North Main Task Force"] Appointments are expected to be made at the council’s June 4 meeting.
At AAPAC’s May 23 meeting, Derezinski told commissioners that “basically, we need someone at the table.”
The task force is charged with delivering a report to the city council more than a year from now – by July 31, 2013 – that describes “a vision to create/complete/enhance pedestrian and bike connection from downtown to Bandemer and Huron River Drive, increase public access to the river-side amenities of existing parks in the North Main-Huron River corridor, ease traffic congestion at Main and Depot at certain times of a day and recommend use of MichCon property at Broadway; …”
Earlier than that – by the end of 2012 – the task force is to make recommendations on the use of the city-owned 721 N. Main parcel.
Brown has served on AAPAC since early 2009, and has chaired the commission’s projects committee. She is a principal of Rizzolo Brown Studio, an Ann Arbor architecture firm.
This brief was filed from the basement conference room of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where AAPAC held its meeting. A more detailed report will follow.
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Any news on the “water features” near 7th – there seems to be a permanent sinkhole there, with publicly funded orange cone art. I thought I read something about stormwater management hardware (swirl concentrators?) that were not functioning properly.
There are an astounding number of toad tadpoles in the pond in West Park. Just amazing, thousands and thousands of them.
Yesterday I saw Amy Kuras (city parks planner) and Mike Levine (co-owner of Nature & Nurture, LLC ) walking around in the park pointing and looking like they were planning plantings.
Vivienne, yes, I read that too. I think there are two sets of concentrators (they trap sediment in stormwater) on the west side of the park, one each where the park meets Seventh. The northern ones failed last fall, and the the city and the contractor where disputing whose responsibility it is.
The city’s Park Improvement page has some information: [link]
West Park
Major renovation of the park is nearly complete, including stormwater improvements, pathway construction, seat walls at the bandshell, basketball court replacement, parking lot renovations and landscaping. Some of the landscaping will be completed in the spring.
There have been several issues with the underground storm system that was constructed as part of the renovation project. These are being addressed and will be resolved next construction season.
The house on Chapin Street purchased by parks will be demolished this spring.
The tennis court will be rebuilt in the spring, and work is underway to prepare construction drawings.
The historic pergola as well as the planting and sitting area on Miller Ave will be renovated.
I’m hoping they take down the ugly orange fencing soon, too.
Matt, I was going to say the same thing — when is that fencing coming down?
There is a “grand opening” of the park scheduled for June 19. I’m just guessing, but that would seem an obvious deadline for removing all the fencing. I assume more details about the event will be available as it gets closer. A quick google search didn’t help me find them.
Re. swirl concentrators: Eight swirl concentrators were installed as a part of the West Park project – four near the north Seventh Street entrance and four near the south entrance on Seventh. Craig Hupy, head of systems planning for the city, gave a report at the February 2011 meeting of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission. He told PAC that four of the eight swirl concentrators were in some state of failure, and that one of the four had experienced a catastrophic failure. The other four were also suspected to have problems. Here’s a link to The Chronicle’s report of that meeting, with more details: [link]
Re. West Park grand re-opening: Amy Kuras, the city’s park planner who managed this project, tells me the event on Sunday, June 19 will run from noon-4 p.m. and will include the Civic Band and other entertainment, interpretive walks, games, food vendors, and presentations. They plan to issue a press release about it soon – if you’re signed up for the city’s email alerts, info will likely be distributed that way as well.
Re. the temporary fences: Kuras says they’ll be removed before the event.
Photo of failed swirl concentrator, after it had been excavated: [photo]
I think the bandshell has been served very poorly by this renovation. The seating walls are nice, but you can’t actually approach the stage anymore.
Re: [9] It’ll be interesting to see how the bandshell fares as a performance venue. In early August, the Penny Seats will be staging a series of performances of Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning, Juliet). The major upside to that is that in early August there’ll be more local theater available than what’s offered in the Democratic primary elections for city council.
Perhaps the Chronicle’s candidate debates could be at the bandshell this year. Maybe neighborhood children could have lemonade concessions and Water Hill musicians could warm up the crowd. Let politics be fun again!
Lots of open pond water sounds like an invitation to mosquito infestation. Bet THAT will affect “how the bandshell fares as a performance venue”. (Ow! Slap)
Do you think they’ll ever allow free Sunday concerts in there again?
I love this. I’m guessing current members of Council wouldn’t “ever allow” anything over 50dBs and you shouldn’t look forward to revisiting the days of the Dead and the MC5 anytime soon either. But if you want a fake tree statue or more swampland and botched project installs, they are totally on board.
i just read the term “swirl concentrator” for the first time 3 minutes ago but i think i could do a better job of constructing one than whoever built these based on the cited stats, and the image which makes it look as if the things were constructed of papier-mache. hope the city is fairly compensated. otherwise, love the new west park!
Kris, that’s what I was going to say. They make these things out of concrete and aluminum. I’ve seen them being installed and think they were Vortech or Contech. These look like low-budget units. You get what you pay for. Or, you pay for what you get.